Michigan schools on hook for Native American tuition program

Michigan's public colleges and universities are on the hook for millions of dollars each year because a program that provides free tuition to Native American students isn't fully funded.

The Detroit News reports some say the state isn't fully honoring a promise made more than 80 years ago, when it pledged to put Native American students through college in return for tribes giving up land so Central Michigan University could expand.

The newspaper reports that last year the state's 15 public universities had to spend more than $5.2 million to subsidize tuition for Native American students because the state allocated only $3.3 million for the $8.5 million program.

University officials and Native American leaders are calling on lawmakers to fully fund the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver program.